World No. 1 golfer and 2024 Masters champion Scottie Scheffler said he holds "no ill will" toward the officer who arrested him outside the PGA Championship earlier this month after charges stemming from the case were officially dropped on Wednesday (May 29).
"I hold no ill will toward Officer [Bryan] Gillis. I wish to put this incident behind me and move on, and I hope he will do the same," Scheffler wrote on his Instagram story. "Police officers have a difficult job and I hold them in high regard. This was a severe miscommunication in a chaotic situation."
Jefferson County Attorney Mike O'Connell revealed that prosecutors didn't plan to move forward with the case stemming from Scheffler's May 17 arrest outside Valhalla Golf Club via ESPN.
Recently unearthed footage showed Scheffler claiming he was "a little bit overaggressive" because "was afraid" while speaking to police at the scene of his arrest outside the PGA Championship tournament earlier this month. The apparent bodycam footage, which was initially shared by Maxwell Mitchell as part of a Facebook live stream on May 23 and reshared by Golf Digest Alex Myers on X Wednesday (May 29), shows Scheffler, 27, expressing fear over his interaction with arresting Louisville Police Officer Det. Bryan Gillis, who attempted to stop him from advancing through traffic outside Valhalla Golf Club on May 17, while talking to another officer at the scene.
Louisville Police Chief Jacquelyn Gwinn-Villaroel revealed that arresting officer Det. Bryan Gillis committed a "policy violation" by not activating his body cam during a press conference last Thursday (May 23) via WDRB News.
“Detective Gillis did have an encounter with Scottie Scheffler. Det. Gillis should have turned on his body cam, but did not… Detective Gillis was counseled by his supervisor,” Gwinn-Villaroel said, adding that "corrective action" was taken against Gillis in relation to the incident.
Gwinn-Villaroel's statement came after Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg had previously confirmed that there was no suspected body cam footage of Scheffler's arrest. The police chief also confirmed that charges against Scheffler were still pending, despite a previous report by No Laying Up editorial director Kevin Van Valkenburg that they were expected to be dropped.
Scheffler's arraignment, which was initially scheduled to be held on May 21, has been delayed until June 3, his attorney, Steve Romines, confirmed to ESPN on May 20. Romines also confirmed a not guilty plea will be entered at the delayed arraignment in Louisville, though Scheffler will not be acquired to attend.
The attorney said a conflict in his schedule was the reason for the date change. Scheffler was charged with second-degree assault of a police officer (felony), third-degree criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.
A Louisville Police Department arrest report accused the recent two-time Masters champion of refusing "to comply and accelerated forward" while "dragging" a police officer "to the ground" and causing injuries."
"Detective Gillis was directing traffic into Gate 1 of the Valhalla Golf Course due to the road being closed in both directions from an earlier fatal collision," the police report states. "Listed subject was driving eastbound to gain access to the course. Subject pulled into the westbound lanes, where outbound traffic was flowing and to avoid backed up traffic.
"Detective Gillis was in the middle of the westbound lanes, in full LMPD uniform and a hi-visibility yellow reflective rain jacket. Detective Gillis stopped subject and attempted to give instructions. Subject refused to comply and accelerated forward, dragging Detective Gillis to the ground. Detective Gillis suffered pain, swelling, and abrasions to his left wrist and knee. He was transported to the hospital for further medical treatment by emergency medical personnel.
"Detective Gillis' uniform pants, valued at approximately $80 were damaged beyond repair."
Scheffler issued a statement to ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington, who witnessed and initially reported his arrest, before beginning his second round at Valhalla.
“This morning, I was proceeding as directed by police officers. It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do," Scheffler said via Darlington, who witnessed and initially reported his arrest. "I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today. “Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective.”
Police instructed Scheffler to stop, however, he reportedly continued driving for about 10 to 20 yards toward the entrance, Darlington had previously reported.
The man killed in the initial incident was attempting to cross Shelbyville Road outside Valhalla Golf Club when he was struck in a dedicated lane of buses and was pronounced dead at the scene. Police and first responders were still present at the scene at around 6:45 a.m. ET, at which point traffic was backed up on the roadway in dark and wet conditions as shuttle buses carrying fans to the course were stopped.
Scheffler finished the PGA Championship tournament at 13-under, tied for eighth, and shot 66 on the day of his arrest. The World No. 1 golfer is less than a month removed from winning his second Masters Tournament and recently became a father for the first time.
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